Higher cholesterol levels are associated with less severe strokes and lower death rates

This study was published in Stroke 2007 Oct;38(10):2646-51

Study title and authors:

Higher total serum cholesterol levels are associated with less severe strokes and lower all-cause mortality: ten-year follow-up of ischemic strokes in the Copenhagen Stroke Study.

Olsen TS, Christensen RH, Kammersgaard LP, Andersen KK.

Stroke Unit, Department of Neurorehabilitation, Hvidovre University Hospital, Kettegaard Allé 30, DK-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark. Tom.Skyhoej.Olsen@hvh.regionh.dk

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17761907

The Scandinavian Stroke Scale is a measurement of stroke severity where a score of "0" is the most severe stroke and a score of "58" is the least severe stroke.

The study investigated the relationship between cholesterol levels and both stroke severity and poststroke death rates in 513 stroke patients average age 75 who were followed for ten years.

The study found:
(a) Each 1 mmol/l (38 mg/dL) increase in cholesterol levels resulted in an increase in the Scandinavian Stroke Scale score of 32% meaning that higher cholesterol levels are associated with less severe strokes.
(b) Each 1 mmol/l (38 mg/dL) increase in cholesterol levels resulted in an 11% decrease in death rates.

The results of the study show that higher cholesterol levels are associated with less severe strokes and lower death rates.

Links to other studies:
High cholesterol levels are associated with a 22% DECREASE in stroke incidence
Low cholesterol and serious complications after an ischemic stroke
A direct association between falling cholesterol levels and mortality in men and women aged between 31 and 65 years old